Because the pet store told me Finn was about 6 months old but that would make him a BIG baby. He was just neutered yesterday so obviously he is sexually mature (although his man parts didn't hang as low as Tofu's). Also now I'm worried I'm feeding him too many greens and not enough pellets. eek!

Usually a good vet can give you an estimate after looking at their nails. that is about the only way I can tell other then if they are sexually mature, which means over 5-6 months of age.

Between the more obvious baby stages and the adult stages, it can be difficult to pinpoint age. Most bunnies finish growing by around 6 months, and fill out a little until 1 y/o...larger breeds take a little longer. A vet can probably give you a better guess!

I wouldn't worry about too many greens. They really can start eating greens very early on. And again, so long as he gets lots of hay, too little pellets is just fine-better than too many

How can you tell by their nails?? I'm still looking for a good rabbit savvy vet in Orlando....

You cannot really tell by nails other than young/baby rabbits have very soft pliable nails and older rabbits have more hard/brittle nails - you cannot accurately tell their age.

Hmm....I found this:
Dr. Kerry Jackson
East Orlando Animal Hospital
7600 Lake Underhill Road, Orlando 32822
(407) 277-3497

They were on the HRS website. I have a vet in Tampa. I see Dr. Borderaux at Pebble Creek Animal and Bird Hospital. She's great and I love the morning staff. They are great and really sweet. Our favorite vet tech is Jasmine. I would check Bunspace. That's how I found Dr. B.

I've called them before for quotes. They're pretty expensive

How much are they wanting to charge you? Something outrageous like $80 for a check up?

$US 80 to see a vet? You have to be kidding ... Australia I took my cat for a check up and it was close to $A 200 or about $US 204 .... I just about dropped dead, was more expensive then seeing a Dr.

I have booked Yuki chan in for her first check up and that is going to cost ￥1200 or about $US 15.35


Zoogist, do you have pet insurance and if so how does that work in the US? I pay ￥4000 a month for my private insurance and for Yuki chan I pay ￥7000 a month (pet insurance higher then my own WT)... Then if she needs to see a vet or go in to hospital the insurance pays 100% of the medical and hospital bills.

Murasaki, that is not uncommon for a rabbit wellness exam to be $80. Actually, the range is about 30-60 here in my city. Rabbits are considered exotic pets. My vet charges about $40 for an exam. Pet Insurance doesn't cover pre-existing conditions, so that will vary with insurances. The insurance system is quite different o_O

I paid $60 for Skipper's first initial vet check up. So I see having to pay anything more crazy. And the fact that you're paying only $15 is insane Murasaki!

I do have to agree with Murasaki though. I would look into getting pet insurance. I am actually signed up with VPI. I know they said they will cover 90% of vet bills concerning an illness and (I think they said) a $50 co-pay. It came out to be like $12 a month for the plan and it had a cap of like $7000. Which I don't think was bad since this is the standard plan that they give everyone. As LoveChaCha was saying they don't cover pre-exsisting stuff. I know Skipper had a pre-exsisting condition, her ear infection since we can't seem to clear the dang thing up, and they won't cover anything related to it unless we have it cleared up for six months and we can refile our claim to have it cover the issue. Maybe I'm just insane. But I know that I want to be safe just in case something happens to Skipper and I know that I will be okay and not end up drowning in debt. So something to think about.

I am a veterinarian and I can tell you that once a rabbit stops growing it is nearly impossible to tell their age... an 8 month old rabbit can look just like an 8 year old rabbit. A super old rabbit (13+) often will show signs of arthritis and weakness in the rear limbs, and may get skinny and have a poor coat (not able to groom themselves well)... but otherwise... good luck!

Posted By lzrddr on 10/17/2012 01:20 AM
I am a veterinarian and I can tell you that once a rabbit stops growing it is nearly impossible to tell their age... an 8 month old rabbit can look just like an 8 year old rabbit. A super old rabbit (13+) often will show signs of arthritis and weakness in the rear limbs, and may get skinny and have a poor coat (not able to groom themselves well)... but otherwise... good luck!

Does that mean they stop growing at 8 months?

Most rabbits grow perhaps imperceptibly after (depends on the breed... some giant breeds may grow a tad longer)... but by 6 months most bunnies are near or at adult size.... add a few months to 'fill out' a bit.

Izrddr - So great to have a vet join us. Welcome.

I have been told and have experienced that as a bunny ages, their teeth yellow and after about five years, you can really see the difference in teeth color from a two year old to a five year. When I adopted Vivian, I was told she was a senior bunny, estimated around 6 years and when I took her to the vet, the vet thought she might be a bit younger at first glance, until she looked at Vivians teeth that were clearly very yellow, and she then thought she might be the estimated age that the rescue gave me. Could other factors yellow a younger bunny's teeth or keep teeth white as they age? Or if so, would that be too uncommon.

The vet I go to is $36 for a check up and it was $117 for Thumpers fixing. and looking on the statement i see they didn't charge me for the pain meds =D how nice. But I know some around me are much much more. and they werent even rabbit savvy =/ umm no!

Posted By NikitaSue20 on 10/17/2012 12:47 PM
The vet I go to is $36 for a check up and it was $117 for Thumpers fixing. and looking on the statement i see they didn't charge me for the pain meds =D how nice. But I know some around me are much much more. and they werent even rabbit savvy =/ umm no!

NikitaSue20 -- that's an amazing price. Prices can also vary from state to state. The most important thing for anyone is to make sure the vet is rabbit-savvy.  As common as rabbits are, as LoveChaCha mentioned they are actually considered "exotic" due to the extra training a vet may need to treat rabbits.   Rabbits, being prey animals have a higher heart rate and this affects how they react to anesthesia, and in general they have their own special rabbity issues and challenges. 

East orlando charges $53 for a visit and $341 for a neuter. other places around me were $54, $60, $65... neuters were from $250-$450.

Yea Don't worry I made sure they were rabbit savvy. They are considered an exotic pet clinic because the vet that deals with thumper and oreo is an exotic vet and the other three there are normal small animal vets. When I took oreo in for a check up after she gave birth, she saw some of the timothy hay in the carrier and literally face palmed right there and said thank god your giving them hay, you wouldn't believe what I see. LOL

My vet was able to estimate Powders age at around 4 years when I got him, I believe from the teeth. He's been seeing rabbits for 25+ years. He estimated Stickers was 4-6 months from her size/breed.

My vet charges $30 for a checkup, $95 for a neuter, $136 for a spay, then pain meds are $6 a dose for metacam. Pre-surgery health screening is included in the neuter/spay costs, but I don't think he does blood work unless requested and that would be extra.

back to teeth and age... rabbit teeth, like horse teeth, grow for the entire length of a rabbit's life. The enamel on them is constantly being produced and laid down as the teeth grow so even old rabbits tend to have a relatively white color. I have seen 13 year rabbits with nice white teeth... in fact, I am trying to remember seeing any rabbit with yellowy teeth... maybe. But that may not be a sign of age rather than some metabolic change in its system. I would not rely on this as an age determination.